Headgear and method of using same

Abstract

Headgear techniques are provided. The headgear has a crown configured to fit on a wearer's head, a bill extending from the crown with at least a portion of the bill being transparent, and a filtration material positioned about the transparent portion of the bill. The filtration material is reactive to radiant energy whereby radiant energy is selectively permitted to pass therethrough. The filtration material may also be capable of passing electrical signals therethrough. The headgear may be providing with sensors, and be part of a monitoring system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A headgear, comprising:
 a crown configured to fit on a wearer's head; 
 a bill extending from the crown, at least a portion of the bill being transparent; and 
 a filtration material positioned about the transparent portion of the bill, the filtration material reactive to radiant energy whereby radiant energy is selectively permitted to pass therethrough. 
 
     
     
       2. The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the crown is transparent, the filtration material positioned about the transparent portion of the crown. 
     
     
       3. The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the filtration material becomes opaque upon exposure to radiant energy. 
     
     
       4. The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the filtration material becomes 50% opaque upon exposure to radiant energy. 
     
     
       5. The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the filtration material is configured to darken when exposed to radiant energy. 
     
     
       6. The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the radiant energy is one of natural light, artificial light, UV rays, heat and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       7. The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the filtration material is one selected from the group of photoelectric, photochromic, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       8. The headgear of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor in an interior of the crown. 
     
     
       9. The headgear of  claim 8 , wherein the filtration material permits the passage of electrical signals therethrough. 
     
     
       10. The headgear of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an RFID tag. 
     
     
       11. The headgear of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a gauge. 
     
     
       12. The headgear of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a transceiver. 
     
     
       13. The headgear of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an alarm. 
     
     
       14. The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the crown has at least one vent therethrough. 
     
     
       15. The headgear of  claim 1 , further comprising a flap positionable over at least a portion of the headgear. 
     
     
       16. The headgear of  claim 1 , further comprising a neck support. 
     
     
       17. The headgear of  claim 1 , further comprising a lanyard. 
     
     
       18. The headgear of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one light in an interior of the headgear, the at least one light for projecting light through the transparent portion. 
     
     
       19. The headgear of  claim 1 , further comprising a basket. 
     
     
       20. A headgear monitoring system, comprising:
 at least one headgear, comprising:
 a crown configured to fit on a wearer's head; 
 a bill extending from the crown, at least a portion of the bill being transparent; 
 at least one sensor in an interior of the crown; and 
 a filtration material positioned about the transparent portion of the bill, the filtration material capable of passing electrical signals therethrough, the filtration material reactive to radiant energy whereby radiant energy is selectively permitted to pass therethrough; and 
 
 at least one controller in communication with the at least one sensor. 
 
     
     
       21. The headgear monitoring system of  claim 20 , further comprising an alarm. 
     
     
       22. The headgear monitoring system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one controller is onsite. 
     
     
       23. The headgear monitoring system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one controller is offsite. 
     
     
       24. The headgear monitoring system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one controller comprises a processer, a transceiver, a display, and a memory. 
     
     
       25. A method of monitoring, comprising:
 providing at least one wearer with a headgear, each of the headgear comprising:
 a crown configured to fit on a wearer's head; 
 a bill extending from the crown, at least a portion of the bill being transparent; at least one sensor in an interior of the crown; and 
 a filtration material positioned about the transparent portion of the bill, the filtration material capable of passing electrical signals therethrough, the filtration material reactive to radiant energy whereby radiant energy is selectively permitted to pass therethrough; and 
 
 establishing a communication link between the at least one sensor and at least one controller, the communication link extending through the at least one headgear; and 
 collecting data from the at least one sensor. 
 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25 , further comprising passing electrical signals between the at least one sensors of a plurality of headgear. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 25 , further comprising determining a location of the at least one wearer. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 25 , further comprising selectively activating an alarm. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 25 , further comprising analyzing the data. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 29 , further comprising sending feedback based on the analyzed data. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 25 , further comprising measuring site parameters. 
     
     
       32. A method of manufacturing a headgear, comprising:
 producing a crown configured to fit over a wearer's head, the crown having a bill extending therefrom, at least a portion of the bill being transparent; and 
 providing the transparent portion of the bill with a filtration material adjustably reactive to radiant energy whereby radiant energy is selectively permitted to pass therethrough. 
 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32 , wherein the providing comprises applying the filtration material on at least a portion of the bill. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 32 , wherein the providing comprises integrating the filtration material into the transparent portion of the bill. 
     
     
       35. The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the filtration material is applied to at least a portion of the bill. 
     
     
       36. The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the filtration material is integrated into the transparent portion of the bill.